in one flight, and three in another. The dogs ran and
brought the birds when they had fallen to the ground.
The king ran after them, took the game from them him-
self, was delighted with his six)rt, and said, "It will be
long before the most of you have such success." They
agreed in this; adding, that in their opinion no king
had such luck in hunting as he had. Then the king rode
home with his followers in high spirits. Ingegerd, the
king's daughter, was just going out of her lodging w'hen
the king came riding into the yard, and she turned round
and saluted him. He saluted her in return, laughing;
produced the birds, and told her the success of his chase.

"Dost thou know of any king," said he, "who made
so great a capture in so short a time?"

"It is indeed," replied she, "a good morning's hunting,
to have got five black-cocks ; but it was a still better when,
in one morning, the king of Norway, Olaf, took five
kings, and subdued all their kingdoms."

When the king heard this he sprang from his horse,
turned to Ingegerd, and said, "Thou shalt know, In-
gegerd, that however great thy love may be for this man,
thou shalt never get him. nor he get thee. I will marry
thee to some chief with whom I can be in friendship;

368



SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSON

but never can I be a friend of the man who has robbed
nie of my kinj^dom, and done me great mischief by ma-
rauding and kilhng through the land." With that their
conversation broke off, and each went away.

91. OLAF The NORWAY KING'S COUNSELS.

Ingegerd, the king's daughter, had now full certainty
of King Olaf's intention, and immediately sent men to
West Gautland to Earl Ragnvald, and let him know how
it stood with the Swedish king, and that the agreement
made with the king of Norway was broken; and advis-
ing the earl and people of West Gautland to be upon their
guard, as no peace from the people of Norway was to be
expected. When the earl got this news he sent a mes-
sage through all his kingdom, and told the people to be
cautious, and prepared in case of war or pillage from the
side of Norway. He also sent men to King Olaf the
Thick, and let him know the message he had received, and
likewise that he wished for himself to hold peace and
friendship with King Olaf; and therefore he begged
him not to- pillage in his kingdom. When this message
came to King Olaf it made him both angry and sorry;
and for some days nobody got a word from him. He
then held a House-Thing with his men, and in it Bjorn
arose, and first took the word. He began his speech by
telling that he had proceeded eastward last w'inter to es-
tablish a peace, and he told how kindly Earl Ragnvald
had received him; and, on the other hand, how crossly
and heavily the Swedish king had accepted the pro-
posal. "And the agreement," said he, "which was made,

369



THE HEIMSKRINGLA

was made more by means of the strength of the people,
tlie power of Thorgny, and the aid of the earl, than by
the king's good-will. Now, on these grounds, we know
for certain that it is the king who has caused the breach
of the agreement ; therefore we ought by no means to
make the earl suffer, for it is proved that he is King
Olaf's firm friend." The king wished now to hear from
the chiefs and other leaders of troops what course he
should adopt. "Whether shall we go against Gautland,
and maraud there with such men as we have got; or is
there any other course that appears to you more advis-
able?" He spoke both long and well.

Thereafter many powerful men spoke, and all were at
last agreed in dissuading from hostilities. They argued
thus : — "Although we are a numerous body of men who
are assembled here, yet they are all only people of weight
and power; but, for a war expedition, young men who
are in quest of property and consideration are more suit-
able. It is also the custom of people of weight and
power, when they go into battle or strife, to have many
people with them whom they can send out before them
for their defence; for the men do not fight w'orse who
have little property, but even better than those who are
brought up in the midst of wealth." After these con-
siderations the king resolved to dismiss this army from
any expedition, and to give every man leave to return
home; but proclaimed, at the same time, that next sum-
mer the people over the whole country would l^e called
out in a general levy, to march immediately against the
vSwedish king, and punish him for hi§ want of faith. All



SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSON

thought well of this plan. Then the king returned north-
wards to Viken, and took his abode at Sarpsborg in au-
tumn, and ordered all things necessary for winter pro-
vision to be collected there; and he remained there all
winter (1019) with a great retinue.

92. SIGVAT THE skald's JOURNEY EASTWARDS.

People talked variously about Earl Ragnvald; some
said he was King Olaf's sincere friend; others did not
think this likely, and thought it stood in his power to
warn the Swedish king to keep his word, and the agree-
ment concluded on between him and King Olaf. Sigvat
the poet often expressed himself in conversation as Earl
Ragnvald's great friend, and often spoke of him to King
Olaf; and he offered to the king to travel to Earl Ragn-
vald's and spy after the Swedish king's doings, and to
attempt, if possible, to get the settlement of the agree-
ment. The king thought well of this plan; for he oft,
and with pleasure, spoke to his confidential friends about
Ingegerd, the king's daughter. Early in winter (1019)
Sigvat the skald, with two companions, left Sarpsborg,
and proceeded eastwards over the moors to Gautland.
Before Sigvat and King Olaf parted he composed these
verses : —

"Sit bappy in thy hall, O king ! The farewell word is spoken now —

Till I come back, and good news The word that to the heart lies

brint? : nearest ;

The skald will bid thee now fare- And yet, O king ! before I go,

well, One word on what I hold the dearest.

Till he brings news well worth to I fain would say, 'O ! may God save

tell. To thee the bravest of the brave,

TTp wishes to the helmed hero The land which is thy right by
Health, and long life, and a full flow birth !' —

Of honour, riches, and success — This is my dearest wish on earth."
And. jiartiug, ends his song with

this.

Z7^



THE UEIMSKRINGLA

Then they proceeded eastwanls towards Hid, and had
difticuhy in crossing the ri\er in a Httle cobble; but they
escai)ed, though with danger: and Sigvat sang: —

"On shoro tho crazy boat I drew, To see us in this cobble sailing,

WVt to tho Rklii. niid friRhtened too; And all our sea-skill unavailing.

For truly thorc was danger then : Hut better did it end, you see,

Tb« tnocklug hill elves laughed again. Than any of us could foresee."

Then they went through the Eid forest, and Sigvat
sang :—

"A hundred miles through Eid's old With many a grumble, many a

wood. groan.

And devil on alebouBe, bad or good, — A hundred miles we trudged right
A hundred iiiileH, and tree and sky on ;

Were all that met the weary eye. And every king's man of us bore

On each foot-sole a bleeding sore."

They came then through Gaulland, and in the evening
reached a farm-house called Hof. The door was bolted
so that they could not come in ; and the servants told
them it was a fast-day, and they could not get admittance.
Sigvat sang: —

•'Now up to Hof in haste I hie. My trouble with few words was
And round the house and yard I pry. paid —

Doors are fast locked— but yet ''Tis holy time,' the house-folks said.

„ ..T , ; . Heathens! to shove me thus away!

MethliikB. I hear some stir and din. I' the foul fiend's claws may you
I peep, with noFe close to the ground, all lay "

Below the door, but small cheer
found.

Then they came to another farm, wdiere the good-wife
was standing at the door, and told them not to come in.
for they were busy with a sacrifice to the elves. Sigvat
sang of it thus : —

Ti!^,! ^ZJa'^a f.?''''",^'"*'./ ^^^^'' '^'^^ "S'y ^'it'"'i 'Irove me away,

â– Kor.nT,.- , v.'".1*'^^*''' ^'^^ ^"^^^^^ wolf sneaking from his

ror all of uh are heathens here, prey

And I for OdIu'H wrath do fear.' When she told me that there within

Was sacrifice to foul Odin."

Another evening they came to three bondes, all of them

2>72



SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSON

of the name of Olver, who drove them away. Sigvat
sang :—



"Three of one name.
To their great shame.
The traveller late
Drove from their gate !



Travellers may come
From our viking-home.
Unbidden guests
At these Olvers' feasts."



They went on farther that evening, and came to a
fourth bonde, who was considered the most hospitable
man in the country ; but he drove them away also. Then
Sigvat sang: —



"Then on I went to seek night's rest
From one who was said to be the

best.
The kindest host in the land around.
And there I hoped to have quarters

found.
But, faith, 'twas little use to try ;
For not so much as raise an eye
Would this huge wielder of the

spade :
If he's the best, it must be said



Bad is the best, and the skald's

prai.se
Cannot be given to churls like these.
I almost wished that Asta'.s son
In the Eid forest had been one.
When we, his men, were even put
Lodging to crave in a heathen's hut.
I knew not where the earl to find ;
Four times driven off by men unkind.
I wandered now the whole night o'er.
Driven like a dog from door to door."



Now when they came to Earl Ragnvald's the earl said
they must have had a severe journey. Then Sigvat



sang : —

"The message-bearers of the king
From Norway came his words to

bring ;
And truly for their master they
Hard work have done before to-day.
We did not loiter on the road,
But on we pushed for thy abode :
Thy folk, in sooth, were not so kind



That we cared much to lag behind.
But Eid forest safe we found.
From robbers free to the eastern

bound :
This praise to thee, great earl, is

due —
The skald says only what is true."



Earl Ragnvald gave Sigvat a gold arm-ring, and a
woman said "he had not made the journey with his black
eyes for nothing." Sigvat sang: —



"My coal-black eyes
Dost thou despise?
They h.ave lighted me
Across the sea
To gain this golden prize :
They have lighted me.



Thy eyes to see.

O'er Iceland's main.

O'er hill and plain :

Where Nanna's lad would fear to be

They have lighted me."



Sigvat was long entertained kindly and well in the



373



THE HEIMSKRINGLA

house of Earl RagfnvnKl. The earl heard by letters, sent
l)y Ingcgcrcl the king's daughter, that ambassadors from
King Jarisleif were come from Russia to King Olaf of
Svithjod to ask his daughter Ingegerd in marriage, and
that King Olaf had given them hopes that he would agree
to it. Alxnit the same time King Olaf's daughter Astrid
came to Earl RagnvaJd's court, and a great feast was
made for her. Sigvat soon became acquainted by con-
versation with the king's daughter, and she knew him by
name and' family, for Ottar the skald, Sigvat's sister's
son. had long intimate acquaintance with King Olaf, the
Swedish king. Among other things talked of, Earl Ragn-
vald asked Sigvat if the king of Norway would not marry
the king's daughter Astrid. "If he would do that," said
he. *'I think we need not ask the Swedish king for his
consent." Astrid, the king's daughter, said exactly the
same. Soon after Sigvat returns home, and comes to
King Olaf at Sarpsborg a little before Yule.

When Sigvat came home to King Olaf he went into
the hall, and, looking around on the walls, he sang: —

"When our men their arms are tak- Shields, helms, and panzers.i all in

•nu row,

The rnvon'B wings with greed are Stripped in the field from lifeless

KhnkinK: foe.

Wh<'n they come back to drink in In truth no royal nail comes near

„ *•■" ,, ^ . , Thy splendid nail in precious gear."
Druvp Kpoll they bring to deck the

wnll—

Afterwards Sigvat told of his journey, and sang these
verses : —

"ThP kInK's court-guards desire to With joyless weather, wind and rain,

»i. .'""'' . ^^^ pinohinK told, and feet in pain — •

About ...ir Journey and our cheer. With sleep, fatigiie, and want op-
our HhlpH 111 autumn reach the pressed,

lint 'i!!^'1''."k . o ,. . . ^° ^""^s ^ad we — we scarce bad

not |r.n:< the way to Swedish ground. rest."

•The Pantzcr — a complete suit of plate-armour.

374



SAGA OF OLAP IIAKALDSON

And when he came into conversation with the king
he sang: —

"When first I met the earl I told In R.ignvald's house shall find a

How our king loved a friend so bold ; home- —

How in his heart he loved a man At Raguvald's court be still wel-

With hand to do, and head to plan. come.

Thou generous king ! with zeal and When first I came the people's mind

care Inc'ensed by Eirik's son I find ;

I sought to advance thy great affair ; And he refused thy wish to meet.

For messengers from Russian land Alleging treachery and deceit.

Had come to ask Ingegerd's hand. liut I explained how it was here.

The earl, thy friend, bids thee, who For earl and king, advantage clear

art With thee to hold the strictest peace.

So mild and generous of heart. And make all force and foray cease.

His servants all who here may come The earl is wise, and understands

To cherish in thy royal home ; The need of peace for both the
And thine who may come to tlie east lands ;

In Ragnvald's hall shall find a And he entreats thee not to break

feast — The present peace for vengeance's

sake !"

He immediately tells King Olaf the news he had heard ;
and at first the king was much cast down when he heard
of King Jarisleif's suit, and he said he expected nothing
but evil from King Olaf; but wished he might be able to
return it in such a way as Olaf should remember. A
while afterwards the king asks Sigvat about various news
from Gautland. Sigvat spoke a great deal about Astrid,
the king's daughter; how beautiful she was, how agree-
able in her conversation ; and that all declared she was in
no respect behind her sister Ingegerd. The king listened
with pleasure to this. Then Sigvat told him the con-
versation he and Astrid had had between themselves, and
the king was delighted at the idea. "The Swedish king,"
said he, "will scarcely think that I will dare to marry a
daughter of his without his consent." But this speech
of his was not known generally. King Olaf and Sigvat
the skald often spoke about it. The king inquired par-
ticularly of Sigvat what he knew a]x)ut Earl Ragnvald,
and "if he be truly our friend," said the king. Sigvat

375



THE HEIMSKRINGLA

said thai the carl was King Olaf s best friend, and sang
tliese verses : —

•The miKlity Olaf should not cease Of all who dwell by the East Sea

With bim to hold good terms and So friendly no man Is as he :

At all their Things he takes thy
part,

is tt
heart.



p<"aco ;



For this good earl unwearied shows part,

He U thy friend where all are foes. And is thy firm friend, hand and



<>3. — RAGNVALD AND ASTRID S JOURNEY.

After Yule (1019), Thord Skotakol, a sister's son of
Sigvat, attended by one of Sigvat's footboys, who had
been with Sigvat the autumn before in Gautland, went
quite secretly from the court, and proceeded to Gautland.
When thev came to Earl Ragnvald's court, they pro-
duced the tokens which Olaf himself had sent to the earl,
that he might place confidence in Thord. Without de-
lay the earl made himself ready for a journey, as did
Astrid, the king's daughter ; and the earl took with him
120 men, who were chosen both from among his court-
men and the sons of great bondes, ahd who were carefully
equipped in all things, clothes, weapons, and horses. Then
they rode northwards to Sarpsborg, and came there at
Candlemas.

04. — OF KING OLAF's MARRIAGE.

King Olaf had put all things in order in the best style.
There were all sorts of liquors of the best that could be
got, ajid all other preparations of the same quality.
Many people of consequence were summoned in from
their residences. When the earl arrived with his retinue
the king received him particularly well; and the earl was

376



SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSON

shown to a large, good, and remarkably well-furnished
house for his lodging; and serving-men and others were
appointed to wait on him; and nothing was wanting, in
any respect, that could grace a feast. Now when the
entertainment had lasted some days, the king, the earl,
and Astrid had a conference together; and the result of
it was, that Earl Ragnvald contracted Astrid, daughter
of the Swedish king Olaf, to Olaf king of Norway, with
the same dowry which had before been settled that her
sister Tngegerd should have from home. King Olaf, on
his part, should give Astrid the same bride-gift that had
been intended for her sister Ingegerd. Thereupon an
eke was made to the feast, and King Olaf and Queen
Astrid's wedding was drimk in great festivity. Earl
Ragnvald then returned to Gautland, and the king gave
the earl many great and good gifts at parting; and they
parted the dearest of friends, which they continued to be
while they lived.

95. THE AGREEMENT BROKEN BY OLAE.

The spring (1019) thereafter came ambassadors from
King Jarisleif in Novgorod to Svithjod, to treat more par-
•ticularly about the promise given by King Olaf the pre-
ceding summer to marry his daughter Ingegerd to King
Jarisleif. King Olaf talked about the business with In-
gegerd, and told her it was his pleasure that she should
marr}^ King Jarisleif. She replied, "If I marry King
Jarisleif, T must have as my bride-gift the town and earl-
dom of Ladoga." The Russian ambassadors agreed to

377



THE IIEIMSKRINGLA

this, an the pnrt of their sovereign. Then said Tngegerd,
•*If I g-o east to Russia, I must choose the man in Svithjod
whom I think most suitable to accompany me; and I
must stipulate that he shall not have any less title, or in
any respect less dignity, privilege, and consideration
there, than he has here." This the king and the ambas-
sadors agreed to, and gave their hands upon it in con-
firmation of the condition.

**And who," asked the king, "is the man thou wilt
take with thee as thy attendent ?"

"That man," she rq^lied, "is my relation Earl Ragn-
vald."

The king replies, "T have resolved to rew-ard Earl
Ragnvald in a different manner for his treason against
his master in going to Norway with my daughter, and
giving her as a concubine to that fellow, who he knew
was my greatest enemy. I shall hang him; up this sum-
mer.

Then Tngegerd begged her father to be true to the
promise he had made her, and had confirmed by giving
his hand upon it. By her entreaties it was at last agreed
that the king should promise to let Earl Ragnvald go in
I)eace from Svithjod, but that he should never again ap-
pear in the king's presence, or come back to Svithjod
while Olaf reigned. Ingegerd then sent messengers to
the earl to bring him these tidings, and to appoint a place
of meeting. The earl immediately prepared for his jour-
ney ; rcKJe up to East Gautland ; procured there a vessel,
and, with his retinue, joined Ingegerd, and they pro-
ceeded together eastward to Russia. There Ingegerd

3/8



SAGA OF OLAF HARALDSON

was married to King Jarislcif; and llieir children were
Valdemar, Vissivald, and Holte the Bold. Queen In-
gegerd gave Earl Ragiivald the town of Ladoga, and
earldom belonging to it. Earl Ragnvald was there a
long time, and was a celebrated man. His sons and
Ingebjorg's were Earl Ulf and Earl Eilif.

96. HISTORY OF the: LAGMAN EMUND.

There was a man called Emund of Skara, who was
lagman of West Gautland, and was a man of great under-
standing and eloquence, and of high birth, great connec-
tion, and very wealthy ; but was considered deceitful, and
not to be trusted. He was the most powerful man in
West Gautland after the earl was gone. The same spring
(1019) that Earl Ragnvald left Gautland the Gautland
people held a Thing among themselves, and often ex-
pressed their anxiety to each other about wdiat the Swed-
ish king might do. They heard he was incensed because
they had rather held in friendship with the king of Nor-
way than striven against him; and he was also enraged
against those who had attended his daughter Astrid to
Norway. Some proposed to seek help and support from
the king of Norway, and to ofifer him their services ; others
dissuaded from this measure, as West Gautland had no
strength to oppose to the Swedes. "And the king of
Norway," said they, "is far from us, the chief strength
of his country very distant ; and therefore let us first send
men to the Swedish king to attempt to come to some re-
conciliation with him. If that fail, we can still turn to
the king of Norway." Then the bondes asked Emund

379



THE HEIMSKRINCLA

lo uiulcrtakc this mission, to which he agreed; and he
prtKccdcd with thirty men to East Gautland, where there
were many of his relations and friends, who received
him hospitahly. He conversed there with the most pru-
dent men about this difficult business; and they were all
unanimous on one point, — that the king's treatment of
them was against law and reason. From thence Emund
went into Svithjod, and conversed with many men of
consequence, who all expressed themselves in the same
way. Emund continued his journey thus, until one day,
towards evening, he arrived at Upsala, where he and his
retinue took a good lodging, and stayed there all night.
The next day Emund waited upon the king, who was
just then sitting in the Thing surrounded by many peo-
ple. Emund went before him, bent his knee, and saluted
him. The king looked at him, saluted him, and asked
him what news he brought.

Emund replies, "There is little news among us Gaut-
landers; but it ai)pears to us a piece of remarkable news
that the proud, stupid Atte, in Vermaland, whom we look
upon as a great sportsman, went up to the forest in win-
ter with his snow-shoes and his bow. After he had got
as many furs in the mountains as filled his hand-sledge so
full that he could scarcely drag it, he returned home from
the woods. But on the way he saw a squirrel in the
trees, and shot at it, but did not hit; at which he was so
angry, tliat he left the sledge to run after the squirrel :
but still the squirrel sprang wdiere the wood was thickest,
.sometimes among the roots of the trees, sometimes in the
branches, sometimes among the arms that stretch from

380



SAG.l OF OLAP HARALDSON

tree to tree. When Atte shot at it the arrows flew too
high or too low, and the squirrel never jumped so that
Atte could get a fair aim at him. He was so eager upon
this chase that he ran the whole day after the squirrel,
and yet could not get hold of it. It was now getting
dark ; so he threw himself down upon the snow, as he was
wont, and lay there all night in a heavy snow-storm.
Next day Atte got up to look after his sledge, but never
did he find it again ; and so he returned home. And this
is the only news, king, I have to tell."

The king says, "This is news of but little importance,
if it be all thou hast to tell."

Emund replies, "Lately something happened which may
well be called news. Gaute Tofason went with five war-
ships out of the Gaut river, and when he was lying at
the Eikrey Isles there came five large Danish merchant-
ships there. Gaute and his men immediately took four
of the great vessels, and made a great booty without the
loss of a man; but the fifth vessel slipped out to sea, and
sailed away. Gaute gave chase with one ship, and at
first came nearer to them ; but as the wind increased, the
Danes got away. Then Gaute wanted to turn back ; but
a storm came on so^ that he lost his ship at Hlesey, with
all the goods, and the greater part of his crew. In the
meantime his people were waiting for him at the Eikrey
Isles ; but the Danes came over in fifteen merchant-ships,
killed them all, and took all the booty they had made. So
but little luck had they with their greed of plunder."

The king replied, "That is great news, and worth be-
ing told ; but what now is thy errand here ?"



THE HEIMSKRINGLA

Emund replies, "I travel, sire, to obtain your judg-
ment in a difficult case, in which our law and the Upsala
law do not agree."

The king asks, "What is thy appeal case?"

Emund replies, "There were two noble-born men of
equal birth, but unequal in property and disposition.
They quarrelled about some land, and did each other much
damage; but most was done to him who was the more
powerful of the two. This quarrel, however, was set-
tled, and judged of at a General Thing; and the judg-